The first trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrived on March 18, and it is bringing a piece of Hell’s Kitchen along for the ride. While Jon Bernthal‘s return as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, is getting most of the attention, he is not the only familiar face from the world of Daredevil: Born Again showing up in Tom Holland’s latest adventure.
Fans who have been keeping up with the Disney+ series spotted other connections to the street-level side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe hiding in the new footage. The trailer suggests that Peter Parker’s corner of New York is a lot more crowded and a lot more dangerous than audiences might have expected.
The Punisher Brings His Battle Van to the Big Screen
Jon Bernthal reprises his role as Frank Castle, marking the character’s official jump from the small screen to a major theatrical release. The Punisher first appeared in Daredevil season two back in 2016 before getting his own Netflix spinoff. After the Netflix shows were integrated into the MCU canon, Bernthal returned as Castle earlier this year in Daredevil: Born Again.
The Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer shows that the character is not just making a cameo. Multiple clips reveal the Punisher’s Battle Van crashing into Spider-Man and carrying the webslinger down the street. Another shot appears to show a heavy weapon firing at Spidey as he swings through the city.
Bernthal worked closely with director Destin Daniel Cretton and star Tom Holland to make sure the character felt consistent across projects. Bernthal explained that it was important for audiences to believe that the same Punisher could appear in both a Spider-Man movie and his own upcoming special presentation.
“I think what was really important to me and to Destin and to Tom is that we believed that The Punisher could walk off of the Spider-Man set and could walk onto the special set, and I do believe that we achieved that.” – Jon Bernthal
The Hand Ninjas Make a Surprise Appearance
The Punisher is not the only connection to the Netflix era. The trailer shows Spider-Man fighting a group of ninjas dressed in red, and longtime Marvel Television viewers recognize them immediately as members of the Hand.
The Hand is a mystical ninja clan and criminal organization with deep roots in Marvel lore. They played a major role in Daredevil season two and were the primary antagonists in The Defenders miniseries. Their appearance in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer suggests that the organization is still active in the MCU, even after the events of the Netflix shows.
This connection opens up all kinds of possibilities. If the Hand is still operating in New York, it raises questions about what other characters from that world might show up. The Hand was heavily connected to Elektra Natchios and Stick, though neither character has been confirmed for the film yet.
A Familiar Face from Fisk’s Office Shows Up
Sharp-eyed viewers noticed another Daredevil: Born Again connection that is easy to miss. The trailer shows Spider-Man receiving the key to the city from a woman identified as Sheila Rivera.
Zabryna Guevara plays Sheila Rivera in Daredevil: Born Again, where she serves as chief of staff to Mayor Wilson Fisk. Her presence in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer suggests that Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Kingpin might have some influence over what is happening in the movie, even if he does not appear directly.
The timing of this scene is interesting. In Daredevil: Born Again, Fisk is actively consolidating power in New York City. Having his chief of staff present Spider-Man with an award could be part of a larger political game. It might also mean that the film takes place at a point in the timeline before Fisk’s mayoral storyline reaches its breaking point.
Scorpion Returns After Years of Waiting
Michael Mando finally returns as Mac Gargan, aka Scorpion, after being teased all the way back in Spider-Man: Homecoming. That film’s post-credits scene showed Gargan meeting with Adrian Toomes, the Vulture, and asking about Spider-Man’s true identity.
The wait has been long, but the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer confirms that Scorpion is finally suiting up. The character is seen in his full costume, ready to cause trouble for Peter Parker. For fans who have been following the MCU Spider-Man films from the beginning, this payoff feels long overdue.
What This Means for Daredevil Himself
With all these Daredevil-adjacent characters showing up, fans are understandably wondering if Charlie Cox‘s Matt Murdock might appear in the film. Peter Parker already met Daredevil briefly in Spider-Man: No Way Home, when Matt Murdock showed up as a lawyer to help clear Peter’s name.
The trailer does not show Daredevil directly, but the presence of the Hand and Sheila Rivera creates a logical opening for him. In the comics, Spider-Man and Daredevil have a long history of teaming up to fight street-level threats. Both characters operate in New York, and both have connections to the Hand and Kingpin.
For now, Marvel and Sony are keeping quiet about whether Cox shows up. But the trailer makes one thing clear: the world of Daredevil: Born Again and the world of Spider-Man are colliding in a big way.
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Release Date and What to Expect
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to hit theaters on July 31, 2026. The film takes place four years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Peter Parker living alone after erasing himself from the memories of everyone he loves.
Mark Ruffalo returns as Bruce Banner, who appears to be teaching at a university and helps Peter understand why his powers are changing. The trailer hints that Peter’s spider DNA is mutating, which could give him new abilities or create new problems.
Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are back as MJ and Ned, though their roles are more limited this time due to the memory wipe from the previous film. Sadie Sink appears briefly in the trailer, though her character remains a mystery. Many fans believe she could be playing Jean Grey, which would bring mutants into the MCU in a major way.
The film also introduces Tramell Tillman as the new director of Damage Control and Marvin Jones III as the villain Tombstone.
With Destin Daniel Cretton directing and a cast packed with familiar faces, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to be the biggest street-level MCU movie yet. Whether Matt Murdock actually shows up remains to be seen, but the connections to Daredevil: Born Again are already stronger than anyone expected.
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